Chapter 115: About "Pursuing My Not-Yet-Officially-Divorced Fiancée's Teacher"
"I never expected the Mo Clan to be involved in such despicable acts behind the scenes… Truly chilling!"
Inside the grand hall, Yun Yun sat at the head, her gaze icy as she looked down at Mo Lan, her expression filled with loathing.
Earlier, she had followed Xiao Yuan to inspect the underground chambers of the Mo Clan. Even as a Dou Huang, she had been forced to retreat halfway, gagging from the horror.
It was inhumane!
Had it only been the transplantation of magical beast limbs or organs, she might have tolerated it. But to dissect living people, tearing them into pieces—this was beyond wicked. It was inexcusable.
Yun Yun wasn't naïve. Over the years, she had grown distant from internal sect affairs, focused solely on cultivation. Much of the sect's dealings had been left to senior elders. The Mo Clan's rise was in part due to their body-modification techniques, but also because of the backing—direct or indirect—of Misty Cloud Sect.
While the sect hadn't intervened directly, its name had allowed the Mo Clan to act with impunity. And that made it partially responsible.
"From today on, Misty Cloud Sect will monitor the Mo Clan closely. Should any more filth like this occur… I will show no mercy!"
With that, Yun Yun's words struck Mo Lan like a hammer. His face paled.
Without the sect's protection, and with Mo Cheng gone, the Mo Clan was already on the brink. Now they were also being scrutinized by the very power they once relied upon. If another clan exposed what they had done over the years…
"Lady Yun, I—"
He tried to explain, but her Dou Huang aura flared, silencing him instantly.
"Hehe, no need to panic, Clan Leader Mo. I happened to record something quite interesting with my Dou Qi. Why don't we all take a look?"
Xiao Yuan stepped forward, smiling faintly. He opened his palm, revealing a jade slip. A stream of Dou Qi projected an image into the air.
It was the scene where Mo Cheng and the others had discussed their crimes.
Xiao Yuan had captured it using his Listening to the Whispering Wind technique—another kind of "video evidence."
"Talking about killing my brothers and our mercenary comrades… ignoring Lady Yun's authority… even saying Misty Cloud Sect should cough up what it's eaten?"
Xiao Yuan sneered.
"Impressive decisiveness from your great elder. Fortunately, I arrived in time. If my brothers had been harmed, I'd have burned the Mo Clan to the ground!
By the way, I'm curious—how much tribute did you send to Misty Cloud Sect? I imagine Lady Yun is wondering the same."
Mo Lan broke into a cold sweat.
Damn that Mo Cheng! Not only did he get caught on record—but also failed to detect being observed!
"Those… those were all Mo Cheng's doing. I had no knowledge…"
Mo Lan stammered, his heart filled with rage at his dead elder. Incompetent fool!
"Well, anyway, I already cleaned up your subordinates and burned everything in the chamber. Just patch it up before it collapses and leaves a gaping hole in the ground."
Xiao Yuan waved dismissively.
Yun Yun's expression darkened. She realized how lax she had been in managing the sect's inner workings.
"I'll investigate this fully once I return. Misty Cloud Sect does not need the support of shady vassals like the Mo Clan. Any resources taken will be returned. And as for the Mo Clan—your crimes will not be ignored."
With that, she rose, turned, and walked out.
Xiao Yuan followed, both of them flying off—one with Dou Qi wings, the other with a flight technique.
Watching them leave, Mo Lan's frightened face twisted into despair.
"…Start preparations. We must relocate. The Jia Ma Empire is no longer safe for the Mo Clan. Begin evacuating our other labs and 'subjects.' That will be our key to rising again."
Meanwhile, in the sky, Yun Yun sighed.
"These past years I've focused too much on cultivation… I never realized what was happening in the sect. Misty Cloud Sect's name is no longer what it once was. I've failed as a sect master."
"Don't be too hard on yourself," Xiao Yuan comforted her. "As long as you're still here, even if Misty Cloud Sect falls, you can rebuild it. But if you don't keep training and someone stronger appears, the sect truly will be gone. In this world, strength is everything."
Sects were different from clans. Clans relied on bloodlines; sects could continuously absorb new disciples. That was the practical truth—but Xiao Yuan was really just trying to comfort Yun Yun.
He didn't care about Misty Cloud Sect—he only cared about Yun Yun.
"If the sect disappears, what's the point in me surviving? I grew up there. Without it, I wouldn't exist."
Yun Yun smiled bitterly.
"That's not true. Life only happens once. If you're alive, there's still hope to rebuild. If everyone dies, then Misty Cloud Sect is truly gone."
Xiao Yuan shrugged.
"…You're right. But wait—why do you always say 'if Misty Cloud Sect falls'? Do you have some grudge against us?"
Yun Yun narrowed her eyes.
"I used to. But after meeting you, my view changed."
"At first? Why?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Xiao Yuan smiled wryly. "You should've guessed by now."
He couldn't bring himself to say it directly.
After all, getting romantically involved with the teacher of his not-yet-formally-divorced fiancée… was a bit awkward.
"…Forget it. You're always so mysterious. But that Medusa power sealed in your body—you should use it sparingly. The strain is too much."
She softened her tone, noticing the pallor of his face.
"I'll be careful. Don't worry."
He nodded solemnly.
"Let's part ways here. I need to return and investigate the sect."
"Alright. I'll be heading to the capital soon. If I get the chance, I'll come find you at Misty Cloud Mountain."
With a gentle nod, Xiao Yuan watched Yun Yun fly off.
"…Shame. Xiao Yan didn't manage to pull off the Buddha's Rage Lotus Flame. Hopefully another opportunity will come."
With a sigh, he flew toward Mo City.
As expected, halfway there, he found Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong waiting.
"Xiao Yan, Elder Hai."
He smiled.
Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. Hai Bodong, on the other hand, wore a nosy grin.
"You and Yun Yun, huh?"
Xiao Yuan was surprised by the elder's expression.
"Tch! You sly brat. Work hard and win her over. You practice my techniques, so you're my heir. One day, if I face Yun Shan again, I'll have bragging rights that my disciple took his!"
It was like Hai Bodong was marrying off his daughter.
"Elder Hai… I should've recorded your expression just now to show Elder Tengshan. Imagine his face if he knew how gossipy you are."
Xiao Yuan chuckled helplessly.
Clearly, Hai Bodong had aged more than just in years. Two decades of sealed cultivation must've been agonizing.
Being reduced from Dou Huang to Dou Ling for twenty years—without any progress—was a terrifying thought.
Twenty years later, Xiao Yan might already be a Dou Saint…
Still, even without that, Xiao Yan could've refined the pill to undo the seal himself within three years. With Yao Lao, a true alchemy master, it was even easier.
Some people really were blessed.
After one more day of flight, the trio returned to Stone Desert City. After a night of rest and a farewell drink, they departed for the capital.
Inside the VIP suite of the flying beast, Xiao Yan stood guard outside while Xiao Yuan and Hai Bodong sat inside.
Though flying was faster, Hai Bodong and Xiao Yan wanted to gather ingredients for the Revival Purple Pill, so they chose the slower route.
Partly, they also didn't want to overuse Yao Lao's strength.
But what truly convinced Hai Bodong was Xiao Yuan's proposal:
He might be able to help restore Hai Bodong's strength.
Had he cultivated normally these twenty years, Hai Bodong could've easily reached eight or nine-star Dou Huang. But due to the seal, he had made no progress. Even with the Breaking Barrier Pill, his strength had regressed.
Xiao Yuan believed that remnants of the sealing power were suppressing a portion of Hai Bodong's Dou Qi.
If he could remove that suppression, Hai Bodong might instantly rise two full stars in rank.
A huge opportunity.
"As I thought. You still have some residual seal energy intertwined with your Dou Qi. I'll help release it. Just prepare to break through."
After a careful examination, Xiao Yuan smiled.
"Alright!"
Hai Bodong nodded eagerly.
Xiao Yuan pressed a palm to his back and began forming the unsealing seals.
Soon, pure icy Dou Qi surged within Hai Bodong's body.
He immediately entered meditation, activating the Mysterious Ice Art.
As the Dou Qi was absorbed, his aura surged.
Normally, rapid power gains would cause instability.
But Hai Bodong had once been a five-star Dou Huang. He only needed time to adjust.
Outside, sensing the energy waves, Xiao Yan used Yao Lao's power to conceal the fluctuations, lest the flying beast panic and crash.
The process was smooth. Despite being Medusa's seal, Xiao Yuan shared the same power source—making him as effective as she would've been.
A short while later, the seal was fully removed. Hai Bodong's icy Dou Qi was so dense, he froze the air around him and became an ice statue.
Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow.
Looking at his palm, he saw traces of icy-blue light.
Looks like I absorbed a bit of his pure ice Dou Qi along the way.
(END CHAPTER)
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